Chapter 7: Hint Chance Time

Hint Chance Time

Mitaka Raika appeared, and I was overjoyed. I had been eagerly awaiting her arrival.

If I was going to do "that," there was no better target than her.

Raika brushed my bangs back with her hand and examined the wound on my forehead.

"You're covered in blood. Have you been hit by them?"

"Nemuri-san blew her up with a bomb!"

"Nemuri's so hard to control..."

She scratches her head in frustration.

She's really good at coordinating things.

"So, how did it go? Did she show the 'Agent'?"

"She says the 'Agent' isn't with her right now."

"He's not with her now? Are they acting separately? Well, let her show us where he's at."

"She says she don't plan on showing us around."

"Really?" Raika sighed and met my eyes. She bent down and looked at me as if I was a child. "Do you understand your situation? Cooperation is important right now."

There is a hint of self-mockery in the phrase "cooperation." Is she aware that it is a word that does not suit her?

"It's just a matter of, 'Where do you live?' Don't be so naive."

"I'm not going to answer that."

"I can understand that. You are not so naive as to let the others know where you sleep. But you have no right to refuse. Just tell us without further ado. We just want to confirm the 'Agent.'"

"Sumire, you should let me show up."

Roy interrupts. I feel a little guilty, but I ignore him.

"Don't worry, I have my 'Agent.' But I won't allow you guys to see him."

"I see... I see."

Raika stood up, took out a cigarette from her case and lit it. She put some distance between us and summoned her magical tool.

It's a motorcycle.

It was a bulky-looking motorcycle with an engine displacement that must have been in the four digits. It stood on its own, and the sound of its engine rumbled through the ground like distant thunder.　

"I'll count to five and then it'll charge at you. Let's have a game of chicken."

Okay, here it comes. An interrogation, eh? That's what I want.

I'm going to confuse her by spilling all sorts of things she don't know, and things that only she could know.

Gap in information breeds suspicion. When there's a difference in the information people have, it's usually because of differences in experience or position. Raika has far more experience as a magical girl, so if I hint at something she doesn't know, she'll become suspicious of my position - that's right, the difference between being a magical girl or not.

That's why Raika is the perfect person to make this move of hinting at unknown information.

As I was secretly chuckling to myself, Yuzuki stepped in my way.

"Mitaka-san, don't be rough."

"Don't get in the way. It's necessary, isn't it?"

That's right, don't get in the way. In this situation, interrogation is necessary, even if it's a little rough.

Let me talk!

But Yuzuki won't back down. "If you hurt Sumire, I'll never forgive you," she says, making Raika's eyes widen.

"What's up with you guys? Do you two have that kind of relationship?"

Wrong!

"Don't worry. She won't die. I'll stop before that happens as long she talks."

"Sumire's not that kind of person. She's the type of person who is prepared to sacrifice herself."

No, even if there were secrets I really didn't want to reveal, if I was really going to die, I'd tell them all.

You don't know that much about me, do you? 

"Calm down. We're doing this to stop people from falling out, right?"

"If Mitaka-san puts down her weapon, I'll calm down too."

"This isn't worth talking about."

Raika's eyes grew murderous. Yuzuki responded by getting ready.

Hey, hey, stop fighting amongst yourself. I'd be bored if this turned into a killing spree. You guys have an important job to do for me, taking on 100% pure clouding.　

Haa...

To be honest, it would have been better to say it right before the Raika countdown ended, but I guess that can't be helped...　

"Mitaka Raika," I said.

"What?"

"Did you know that 'wishes' and a magical girl's abilities are closely related?"　

New information was revealed. Raika's expression, which had been filled with murderous aggression, disappeared, and instead she became serious. It seemed I had caught the fish.

"No. I don't know."

"Those magical tools and unique magic are products of your mind."

"How do you know that?"

The question is ignored.

Once I have caught her attention, we moves on to the next stage. I start by disclosing new information and brings up topics from her past that only she should know, to provoke her unrest and provoke her hostility.　

"So... you wanted to escape from your father with that bike?"

"Why……"

Raika's eyes shook violently. The cigarette fell from her mouth. Now, that was a perfect hook.

"The unique magic of smoke was created so that you could hide from your father."

"No! My Unique magic and magical tools just happen to have that kind of ability!"

"Didn't you wish for your father's death to your 'Agent'? Yes, you had no choice, all to protect your mother."

"Shut up."

It was a low voice filled with hatred.

I was a little scared but I continued.

"But that's what made your mother follow your father. Your father hit you and your mother, but in reality, the two of them seemed to have a deep connection. You're worried about it."

"If you keep talking, I'll kill you."

Raika closed the distance and grabbed me by the collar.

That's what I meant. But the important thing is that I'm just a clumsy mysterious heroine. I'm not saying this to rile up the other person. I'm just trying to comfort them in my own mysterious heroine way. I know I'm going about it completely wrong...

"You did nothing wrong. You just didn't know--"

"Shut up!"

I was hit across the cheek. My mouth was cut and I could taste the blood in my mouth. I was in the middle of speaking so I was lucky I didn't bite my tongue...　

"It was the demon's fault that my mother died! It had nothing to do with his death!"

"You know better than anyone that that is just a cover-up. You are not guilty. There is no way a child's desire to protect her mother could be guilty--"

"That's why I told you to shut up!"　

Raika's violence intensified, kicking me in the chest with her long legs, flipping me over with my chair, then mounting me and punching me in the face over and over again.

"Raika-san!"

"Sumire!"

Shio and Yuzuki tried to stop Raika, but she was so angry she lost control and they couldn't completely restrain her. I just let her do whatever she wanted.

It's crazy! It hurts like crazy and I'm really scared, but... I'm shining my brightest right now!　

Hostility synonymous with murderous intent. This is exactly what I was looking for. My mission is to one day turn that hostility into guilt, like in Othello. The more hatred grows, the more magnificent the change will be when it is turned upside down.

I say things like, "No, listen..." with enthusiasm, trying my best to show that I mean no harm, but the other person won't listen and I end up expressing my frustration that my true intentions aren't being conveyed.　

Damn, this is what I live for!

"Stop it!"

Koharu and Kaoru arrived just in time. Kaoru joined Shio and Yuzuki in pulling Raika away from me. Koharu stood between us, arms outstretched as if to shield me.

"Move! That person is the 'Eighth'!"

"Huh!?"

Kaoru looked at me with a shocked expression.

However, Koharu's attitude remained unwavering.

"But even so, it's not right to use violence against someone who is tied up and unable to move!"

"Is that so? In that case, I'll put an end to it with one hit!"

A motorbike parked in a distant spot took off. It was on a course to run me over and kill Koharu. But I was being unconcerned. I wouldn't die on a motorbike.

As expected, Koharu's shield protected me and her. The motorcycle had the destructive weight of a steel horse, but it was impossible to break through Koharu's shield, which had been given the attribute of "immovable."

Once her shield appears, it is fixed in place and cannot be moved until it is erased, even by Koharu's will. Therefore, it cannot be allowed to shatter.

"Don't get in the way!"

Raika roared. As if in response, the rotation speed of the tires increased, making a deafening noise, but the shield remained unwavering. Normally, Raika would have changed course at this point, but now she was desperate and was challenging it head-on. Of course, Raika had no idea that Koharu's shield was absolutely unbreakable.　

Inside the shield, Koharu's "Recovery Magic" healed my wounds. I could feel the pain gradually subsiding.　

Oh, this is a good opportunity.

As long as Raika continues to take on reckless challenges, Koharu and I will have time to talk.

There was no way I could miss this opportunity, so I decided to throw a lot of things at Koharu as well.

"You're badly hurt... Are you okay...?"

"It's fine. More importantly, Koharu."

"What is it?"

"Do you perhaps .... remember me?”

Koharu's confusion was obvious. Her eyes wandered around in space, as if searching carefully through her memory drawers. However, in the end, she couldn't remember anything.

"I'm sorry... what do you mean 'remember'?"

"That's right... I guess so..." I looked down, my expression gloomy. Then, as if shaking off the sentimentality, I quickly looked up and said, "Listen. There are far more pressing issues than an 'Eighth Person'."

"Eh?"

"You're probably the only one who can calmly accept what I'm saying, so I'm telling you."

"Yeah?"

"The barrier will be destroyed in a week."　

Koharu's "Recovery Magic" stopped. My wounds hadn't healed completely. She was shaken by my words and stopped using the "Recovery Magic."

"What... are you talking about...?"　

Koharu took a step back.

Her face said that her trust had been betrayed.

Hehe, that's a nice expression. But that's not what I want.

I pretended not to notice anything and explained it fluently.

"There is a basement in the Sousei Dome Tower. There is a magic circle there that was planted long ago by the 'Magical Girl of Barrier', and it is creating a barrier that covers the city. I will destroy it."

"The barrier protects this city from demons, right? Do you know what it means to destroy that barrier...?"

"I know. If the barrier is lost, the city will be in danger."

"If that's the case, why..."

"You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs."

It means that accomplishing something always requires sacrifice. I had worried whether a middle school student would understand, but it seemed my worries were unfounded. Koharu was speechless. She took not just one, but two, three steps back and cowered.

"Koharu...?"　

When I called out to her, Koharu's shoulders shook. She remained silent for a long time, and then, as if making up her mind, she stepped out of the range protected by the shield.

"I'm sorry... I don't know which side you're on anymore..."　

I expressed my deepest despair with just my facial expressions. I intended to imprint this expression deep in her heart, so that she would remember it and regret it forever. Perhaps this performance could even earn me an Academy Award.

"Koharu――!"

The shield disappeared. With no wall blocking it's path, the bike was now free and approaching me. 

I didn't want to get run over and killed. Just before the impact, I activated my unique magic and teleported back home.

It was a familiar sight. I broke out into a sweat. I sighed heavily and lay on my back on the floor.

Perhaps it was the adrenaline that was pumping, but the pain that I had felt but hadn't really bothered me until just a moment ago suddenly began to assert its presence.

"Ouch, ouch... Damn you, Raika, you really did a good job."

I cautiously touched my cheek and felt a sharp sensation like electricity. Even though Koharu had used healing magic on it, the swelling still hadn't gone down.

"Sumire."

Then Roy's grave voice rang out.

Oh no, I think.

This time it was a pretty big move.

I revealed information they didn't know, delved into Raika's past and shook her up, and sowed the seeds of doubt in Koharu, who was trying to trust me, causing her to become unsettled. They were supposed to be moving towards cooperation, but I once again plunged them into a crucible of chaos.

This must have been an unbearable turn of events for the fastidious Roy.

I might want to prepare myself for a nagging or two (or maybe even ten).

"You should cool the area quickly."

"Yeah……"

"Magical Girls Killing Each Others" main characters list:

Black - Tachibana Sumire (MC who want to cloud everyone) - Agent: Ryo - Unique Magic: Compensation Magic - Magical Tool: Wires

Pink - Kisaragi Koharu (The original anime MC, 100% all support stats, no offense) - Agent: Rococo - Unique Magic: Recovery Magic - Magical Tool: Shield

Red - Akabane Kaoru (Koharu's childhood friend) - Agent: Ross - Unique Magic:??? - Magical Tool: Sword

Green - Mitaka Raika (25 years old biker Onee-san who smoke) - Agent: Rod - Unique Magic: Smoke Magic - Magical Tool: Motorcycle

Blonde - Alice (the pretend rich loli girl) - Agent: Rock - Unique Magic: ??? - Magical Tool: Gun

Orange - Asahina Shio (a real rich girl) - Agent: Loki - Unique Magic: Acceleration Magic - Magical Tool:???

Purple - Yuzuriha Yuzuki (tomboy) - Agent: Romeo - Unique Magic: ??? - Magical Tool: Chain

White - Tengai Nemuri (amnesiac girl) - Agent: Logos - Unique Magic: ??? - Magical Tool: Grenades